In less than a year, Dubai Chocolate has catapulted from obscurity — or non-existence — to a global dessert sensation dominating social media feeds and restaurant menus alike. It all started with a silent TikTok video from a Dubai-based creator that went viral, and the trend exploded from there. We spotted the early indicators — pistachio popping up everywhere, that irresistible kataifi (shredded phyllo) crunch — and we named kataifi creations the “Dessert of the Year” in our annual Hospitality Trends Report last November. What began as a viral bar quickly became a canvas for creativity. Even we couldn’t anticipate just how popular it would become — or the incredible number of variations we would see popping up in restaurants, pastry shops, major quick service chains, and even bars.
Dubai Chocolate is so popular, it’s sparked another trending dessert spinoff. Dubai Strawberry Parfaits are popping up around the country, with some spots offering only this one item. The trending treat starts with a clear cup full of fresh strawberries layered with pistachio cream and kataifi threads and topped with chocolate sauce and another heap of kataifi, creating a cool, colorful, layered parfait.
From brunch to nightcaps, we’ve rounded up intriguing examples of Dubai chocolate bar-inspired creations.
